Cigarette-mold



p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL J. BENZ, OF HUDSON, NEW YORK.-

CIGARETTE-MOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,117, dated May 25, 1880.

Application filed March 9, 1 880. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J. BENZ, of Hudson, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Cigarette-Mold; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The chief object of my invention is to provide an improved portable or pocket instrument or mold for use of travelers and others for making cigarettes neatly and expeditiously.

The invention consists of a bed piece having a lengthwise groove and two compressing-lids, which are hinged atthe respective sides of said groove, and one of them provided with an extension consisting of a metal platewhose curve or conformation is similar to the groove in the bed-piece, so that when said lids are closed the tobacco will be compressed in the paper envelope or wrapper, as hereinafter more fully described.

The invention further consists in the form of the top of the instrument or mold and the application of sliding clamps thereto for holding the compressing-lids closed when desired, said clamps being prevented from becoming detached by means hereinafter described.

The invention further consists in providing the ends of the bed-piece or body of the mold with cylindrical blocks, which project into the mold-cavity and serve as stops and supports for the hinged lids when closed, and also determine the length of the cigarettes.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved cigarette-mold. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same with the I covers open. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the mold closed. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the mold open. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of one of the end portions of the mold, seen in perspective.

The bodyor bed piece A of my improved cigarette-mold is provided in its upper side with the cigarette and aid in imparting toit the desired cylindrical shape. One lid, B, is wider than the other, 0, and has an extension, D, which consists of a thin metal plate whose transverse curvature corresponds to that ofthe groove in part B, and which is secured to the latter by any suitable means. The free edge of said part D extends beyond the cover B far enough to enable it to pass down below the opposite side or edge of the mold-cavity a when the cover B is closed. Its function is to aid in folding one of the edges of the wrapper around the tobacco filling, as will be presently explained.

The bed-piece A has vertical heads I) b, and on the inner side of these, coincident with the cylindrical mold-cavity, are circular projections 0, whose function is to determine the length of the cigarettes, but more especially to support the covers B 0 when closed, as will be readily understood. The heads b b are of dovetail form in cross-section, and the covers B O are of like exterior contour when closed together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. To hold the covers B 0 thus closed when the mold is being carried in the pocket or not in use I employ clamps F, which closely embrace the top of the mold and are adjustable thereon lengthwise. When the clamps are slid off from the covers B G to release the same, they pass onto the heads b b, but are prevented slipping off the same by means of studs 61.

The mold is used as follows: It is held in the left hand, with both lids B 0 open and thrown back. A paper or other wrapper, Fig. 4, is then laid across the latter so that one edge will extend about three-sixteenths of an inch over the metal extension D, and is held tight against the same by the thumb of the left hand. The tobacco is then placed on the wrapper and crowded down into the groove in the bed-piece -A. Then the lid 0 is closed and firmly pressed down on the blocks a, when the cover B is closed gently, the cover 0 being opened a little to allow the metal extension D to pass down and carry with it the inside end of the wrapper into the groove win the bed-piece A. The lids B 0 being then both pressed firmly together, the desired shape and compression will be imparted. The edge of the wrapper which projects between the lids B C, Fig. 3, is then wet with a brush and the lid B opened to allow such edge to be folded on and secured to the body of the cigarette. The cigarette is then complete, and may be detached from the mold.

5 The brush for wetting the wrappers, and also the wrappers themselves, may be conveniently carried in the cavity 6 in the bottom portion,

f, of the bed-piece A. This part f maybe constructed integrally with the latter or sepa- IO rately therefrom. Its open ends are closed by pivoted plates g.

The diameter and length of the mold-cavity may, obviously, be increased to any desired extent, so as to make cigarettes of more than 15 ordinary thickness. For manufacturing purposes the length of the mold may beincreased to two or three times the length of an ordinary cigarette, so that two or three cigarettes may be made in one wrapper and then cut into 20 proper lengths.

What I claim is- 1. The cigarette-mold consisting of the bedpiece or body A, having a lengthwise groove, and the hinged compressing-lids, also grooved, and one of them having a metal Wing or exten- 2 5 sion, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the grooved bedpieee A, having heads andthe hinged lids B O, of the cylindrical blocks which project into the gold-cavity and subserve the purposes speci- 30 3. The combination of the sliding clamps F, and the hinged lids B O, and heads having doyl etailed form, and the stops, located as specifiec CARL J. BENZ.

Witnesses:

HIRAM D. GAGE, E. W. KIMBALL. 

